Tuesday, September 30, 2014

As the month comes to a close, I thought I would share this story that was published in the September issue of the Oregon Beer Growler magazine. Look for more of my writing in the October issue, available tomorrow!A Community Gathering Spot with a
Focus on Great Beer

The eclectic
sounds of Polecat, a band from Bellingham, WA, drift throughout the multi-use
space that is Crow’s Feet Commons. It is a beautiful, sunny spring morning and
anyone who’s not working is headed out to ski Mount Bachelor or is gearing up
for a bike ride. Even owner David Marchi isn’t going to miss out on this
perfect day. He’s taking his four-year-old son, Talus, along for a backcountry
skiing excursion.

Patrons who
are less able-bodied or have other priorities are enjoying the relative peace
and quiet in the cafe. Two people use the free wifi to conduct business on
their laptops over steaming cups of Stumptown coffee and freshly made Sparrow
Bakery pastries. Another gentleman bobs his head to the music while reading the
paper. Regulars chat with the one staff member who is manning the bar. A couple
of tourists come in looking to purchase a Crow’s Feet Commons logo hat they saw
someone wearing around town.

At this
mid-morning hour, most people are coming into the shop with a purpose, to rent
gear for the day’s adventures or to use the space as a mobile office. The scene
becomes much livelier in the late afternoon, as the skiers return from the
mountain and the bicyclists return from the hills. If the weather is anything
but rainy or snowy, the outdoor tables quickly fill with friends enjoying a
pint from one of the 16 taps of craft beer, including kombucha and cider.
Others grab a bottle from one of the coolers or order wine by the glass. During
the summer months, live music in the adjacent plaza entertains not only the
shop’s patrons but also anyone who is strolling the path by Mirror Pond or
shopping the stores along Brooks Street.

This is all
what David Marchi envisioned when he took over the historic
Goodwillie-Allen-Rademacher house in the fall of 2012. A lifelong thrill seeker
and outdoors lover, he is a professional ski, mountaineering and cycling guide.
A native of Mount Shasta, Calif., he moved to Bend from Colorado in late 2010
with the intent of starting his own business.His
previous experience working at gear shops and a coffee shop gave him the idea
to combine these interests into a community gathering spot that would offer
something for everyone.

David came
up with the name for his new business after reading a poem “that resonated with
me and my lifestyle at the time. The essence was ‘success should be measured in
laugh lines.’” David says his mentors are all “people who are weather-beaten by
the sun, always having a good time and enjoying life,” thus they develop crow’s
feet from all the smiling and squinting. The commons part of the name “reflects
the space, which I wanted to be as community-driven as possible.”

Besides the
cafe/bar and gear shop, the National Register-listed home built in 1904 also
includes a small kitchen and retail space, plus offices and a kid-friendly
lounge area upstairs. According to David, the city of Bend leased him the adjacent courtyard with the
hope that he would be able to change its troubled reputation. After
almost two years in business, he
now sees himself as a community creator. “I am most proud of how we have
turned the place around and of my work with the youth who were committing
crimes. It is very satisfying to see people out in the plaza, happy and
listening to live music, in a space that is now a gathering spot for everyone.”

Bar manager
Jared Smith agrees, saying that “originally, the concept was to feature
locally-made beers, but I realized that market here in Bend is pretty well
covered.” The tap list has evolved to include world class beer from other areas
(for example, Pfriem from Hood River, Ore.), as well as some international
options. The diverse selection of styles is designed to appeal to all types of
beer drinkers, just like the mission of Crow’s Feet Commons is to be welcoming
to everyone. “We try to bring the best to people who wouldn’t necessarily seek
out this level of quality and craftsmanship. This applies to bikes, skis and beer,” says Jared.